Magic The Gathering - Malaysia

Correction: Mun Yip was playing a 4 color-concoction instead of a 5 color deck. The writer apologizes for the mistake.

After another long day of grueling and tiring games, only 3 more match wins separates one of the 8 remaining players from his invitation to Pro Tour: Kyoto and his chance for Pro Tour fame and glory.



Out of the 8, half are veterans and accomplished players of the game, a very well known judge, and 3 more relatively unknowns. 2 of the game veterans however goes heads up against each other, fighting for survival in the first of the 3 single elimination game they have fight through to win the invite.

Both players travelled far to play for the invite (one from Ipoh while the other from KL), but there is only one invite, one return flight ticket to win...

PTQ Kyoto @ Penang November 23 2008 - Quarterfinals
Mohd Ikmal Mohd Nasir vs Yau Mun Yip

On one end sits one of the most accomplished players in the local scene in the country, although a lack of high finishes on the international scene despite multiple Pro Tours slightly puts a dampener on the veteran's resume. On the other end, Mohd Ikmal has been on a winning streak of late, this being back to back PTQ top 8 finish for him. After a missed opportunity just barely two weeks ago, he is ready to make amends and more than ready to seize the moment, lest he let this be another missed chance.


Yau Mun Yip

Yau Mun Yip was pretty unhappy with the deck that he settled upon at the end of deck construction after the top 8 draft despite opening numerous bombs from his packs. He ended up with a wild 4 color concoction that simply tries to play with all the best cards he has to complement his bombs along with a large number of Obelisks to balance out the color issue.

Meanwhile, Mohd Ikmal can't be too happy with his deck either has he drafted a Bant deck with numerous Exalted creatures with a wide assortment of removals like Oblivion Ring, Branching Bolt, Soul's Fire, Magma Spray and more but lacks any creatures that stands out in particular.


Mohd Ikmal Mohd Nasir

Game 1

Mohd Ikmal won the dice roll and elected to start after some consideration. Both players are happy with their opening hand and both starts off slow, with just lands for the first few turns until a Kathari Screecher comes in for Mohd Ikmal while Mun Yip only has a Obelisk to play in return, a Court Archers comes in for Mohd Ikmal, taking his 2/2 flyer into the red zone, hitting Yau to 17, thanks to the Archers' Exalted ability. Mun Yip took some time to consider his options, and simply decides to just go for it and play a Rafiq of the Many as his first creature spell.



Mohd Ikmal is not happy to see the Mythic rare, but could do nothing beyond hitting Mun Yip for another 3 damage with the Screecher taking him down to 14. Mun Yip then sends Rafiq into the red zone, attacking Ikmal, predicting a bounce from him but Mun Yip opponent simply reaches for his pen, writing down the 8 damage he decided to absorb, which takes him down to 12, thanks to the now 4/4 double striking Rafiq. Mun Yip then only could only shrug and laugh as he lay down a Mycoloth, deciding not to devour his Legendary creature. All Ikmal can do was to send his Screecher into Mun Yip to hit for another 3.



Mun Yip then plays a Welkin Guide, giving his Mycoloth +2/+2 and flying and sends him into the red zone as a 6/6 double striker that Ikmal is forced to block with his Court Archers as it would have been lethal.



A Waveskimmer Aven hits play for Ikmal, and his Screecher hits Yau for another 3, taking him down to 8 but a Bloodpyre Elemental from Mun Yip kills off Ikmal's Aven before taking him down to 2 with the double striking 5/5?. Ikmal drew and play his own Bloodpyre Elemental, killing off Rafiq immediately with it, but with barely any life left and much superior creatures on his opponent's side, he went through his combat phases as carefully as possible, but as he desperately tries to find a way out – all he could do was scoop up all his cards for game 2 as Mun Yip's army prove to be too overwhelming for him to handle.

Mohd Ikmal Mohd Nasir 0 – Yau Mun Yip 1

Meanwhile, the battle rages on as players all around the two of them fight it out to decide who will be the ones to survive the quarterfinals.


Rick Lee Hup Beng vs Mohd Afiq Mohd Nasir


Wearn Chong vs Yew Fung Han


Vincent Gan vs Cheong Chee Keong

Game 2

Game 1 was a brutally quick game that was over within minutes.

Ikmal chooses to start again and once again lands leads off the game as the players have nothing to play for the first few turns. Ikmal misses his 3rd land, but found his 3rd land on the 4th turn as he lays a Guardian of Akrasa while all Yau has was another Obelisk. Ikmal as a Gustrider Exuberant to start his offense but Mun Yip plays another monster of a creature for his first creature with a Mycoloth which was promptly followed by a Realm Razer, compounding onto to Ikmal's already mana trouble which is hurting his game badly as it is.



There was nothing Ikmal could do at this point as Mun Yip hits him for 8 with his 4/2 and 4/4, and with Ikmal drawing nothing but dead cards, he simply concedes the game paving the way for Mun Yip to advance into the Semifinals who can't help but be apologetic and sheepish about his match win.

Mohd Ikmal Mohd Nasir 0 – Yau Mun Yip 2

Yau Mun Yip advances into the semifinals beating Mohd Ikmal Mohd Nasir 2-0!